Tatsch



UCLv QSG. R TA1-5CH PANEL HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS original Fi1ed nec. 11, 1946 4 sheets-sheet 1 CIRCULATING UNIT EEEE- Oct. 30, 1956 R TATSH Re. 24,234

PANEL HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMSv original Filed Dec. 11,I 1946 -4 sheets-shea 2 e4 f// 34 g4 33.

Oct. 30, 1956 R. TATSCH 12e- 24,234

v PANEL HEATfNG AND COOLING SYSTEMS Original Filed Dec. 11, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 D/CHAQD 72x TscH Oct. 30, 1956 R. TATscH PANEL HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS Original F'il'ed Dec. ll, 1946 `4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/'gld f5 4.2 49 44 4 44 40 44 (f/ `j 2514 JI i j /vI/EA/ro/.-

434 @zdf/305m United States Patent O PANEL HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS Richard Tatsch, Silver City, N. Mex.

Original No. 2,621,027, dated December 9, 1952, Serial No. 715,462, December 11, 1946. Application for reissue November 9, 1954, Serial No. 467,906

Claims. (Cl. 257-124) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specilication; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

My invention relates to a heat transfer system and more particularly to a system in which space, such as the space in a residence or olice building, is heated or cooled to provide comfort for individuals occupying such space. My invention contemplates a heat transfer system in which a heating or cooling fluid, such, for example, as air, is circulated in conduits within one or more side or end walls or the ceiling or door of a room, all of which are included within the term wall as employed herein.

Among the objects of my invention is the provision of such a heat transfer system which is superior to those heretofore employed in its cost of installation. This object is accomplished by providing conduits for the cooling or heating medium which may be formed of thinner material, for example, metal, and of sections more quickly and less expensively connected than existing systems. More particularly the cost of installation of such a heat transfer system is very substantially reduced by forming the conduit for the heating or cooling medium of a material which is corrugated. These corrugations by strengthening the conduit against deformation permit the conduit to be made of thinner material than conduit which is not corrugated. Further, such corrugations permit the adjacent sections and elbows of the conduit to be connected by merely overlapping them in frictional engagement, such overlapping of parts of one, or more than one corrugation presenting a barrier to the passage of cement or mortar therebetween during the placing and hardening of a cement wall therearound and eliminating the necessity of rivets, seam locks, solder, welding, or simi lar connections of the adjacent sections and elbows.

Another object of my invention is to provide a heat transfer system of the class described providing a greater efficiency of heat transfer than the systems now available. This object is accomplished also by providing corrugations in the conduit through which the heating or cooling medium is passed, thus substantially increasing the heat transfer area of the conduit per unit of its length.

Another object of my invention is to provide a heat transfer system having means therein for varying the rate of heat transfer longitudinally of the system, whereby this rate may be maintained constant throughout the length of the system or varied to any desired value at any given locus.

Embodiments of my invention capable of performing the foregoing objects and providing the foregoing advantages and others are described in the following specication, which may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a sectional plan view of one embodiment of my invention illustrating two forms of conduits which may be employed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional View of the conduit of the heat transfer system illustrated in Figure l and taken as indicated by the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

ICE

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of such conduit taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View of an alternative embodiment of my invention.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of another alternative embodiment of my invention.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of my invention which includes one form of baffle means.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional View taken as indicated bythe line 7 7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of my invention which includes another form of baille means.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure l() is a transverse sectional view of an embodiment of my invention which includes still another form of baille means.

Figure 1l is a fragmentary cross section similar to that in Figure 2 and showing a modified form of construction.

Figure l2 is a cross sectional detail showing a further modification.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal section similar in some respects to that of Figure 6 and showing another modification, and

Figure i4 is a diagrammatic View indicating the relationsliip in general of the improvements of this invention to means for conditioning and circulating air.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only, the numeral 11 refers to a floor of a room, the licor being that one of the walls previously defined in which I have chosen to illustrate the installation of the system of my invention, it being, of course, understood that the system may be installed in any of the other walls of the room.

The floor, as illustrated best in Figure 2, includes a base slab or panel 12 which is formed of cement. As the ter cement is employed herein, it is intended to include any material which hardens into a wall of required structural strength from a plastic, liquid, or viscous state, as, for example, concrete, whether or not it contains before hardening solids, such, for example, as sand, rock, reinforcing steel, or tile, and whether or not it is hardened at the locus of use. If the floor 11 is constructed in the conventional manner, the base panel 12 is formed of concrete which is hardened in place.

The numeral 13 indicates a circulating unit which operates -to force a fluid, such as air under pressure through the heat transfer system. The circulating unit 13 may be of any appropriate form connected to means remote from the oor 11 for heating or cooling the lair and forcing it under pressure through the manifold. Connected to the right-hand side of the circulating unit 13 is a header 14 which is connected by an elbowlSA to a conduit section 16A. The numerals 16B and 16] inclusive, indicate parallel conduit sections all similar fin construction. Adjacent of the conduit sections 16B to 16] inclusive, are connected by elbows 15B. The conduit section 16J is connected either to the circulating unit 13 for the return of the air to the source of heat or cooling and compression or an exhaust to the atmosphere. rThe circulating unit 13 diagrammatically indicated in Figure l is typified in Figure 14 as a blower B of which the air moving unit may be driven by a motor M, .and the source of heat or cool-ing typified by an air conditioning unit F which for heating purposes might be -a furnace.

On the -lefthand side of the circulating unit 13 there is illustrated in Figure l a different form of conduit. An i-nlet header 17 connects to the manifold 13 in parallel a plurality of conduit sections 18A to 18M, the other ends of which yare connected to an outlet header 19. The outlet header 19 is connected through a 180 elbow 20 to an exhaust section 21 which returns the air through the circulating unit 13 to the Source of heat or cooling or compression or exhausts it to the atmosphere.

Each of the headers 14, 17 and 19, conduit sections 16A -to 16J and 18A to 18M, and the exhsaust section 21 Iis preferably formed so that in transverse cross section its outline is that of lan incomplete polygon which may be of any form desired, such, for example, as a portion either more or less than half of a circle, three sides of a square or rectangle, or two sides of 'a triangle. I have illustrated the outline of the incomplete polygon in Figure 2 as including the three sides of a rectangle connected together with arcs, this outline being indicated in general by the numeral 22 and the projecting anges by the numeral 23. f

The elbows A, 15B and 20 are formed of similar cross-sectional outline so tha-t adjacent elbows and conduit sections may be placed in overlapping relationship and in frictional engagement with each other.

As is illustrated best in Figures 2 and 3, the conduit sections 16A to 16] and 18A to 18M (and preferably, though not necessarily the headers 14, 17 and 19 4and the exhaust section 21) `are formed with circumferential corrugatic-ns 24. Such corrugations may be in the form of curved surfaces or angled plane surfaces providing crests and valleys and extend circumferentially around the conduit sections and the elbows either in planes normal to or an angle other than 90 with the laxis of the sections and elbows, all such corrugations being included Within the term circumferential corrugatons as employed herein.

ln the installation of the conduit sections and elbows of the system of my invention the base panel 12 is rst poured in place. When the base panel 12 has hardened, the conduit sections and elbows are Aarranged in the desired relative relationship. Adjacent conduit sections and elbows -are connected by overlapping a portion of one with the other, las indicated by the numeral 25 of Figure 3, by enlarging, slitting, or reducing 'the end of one section or in any other suitable manner. Thereafter the overlapped conduit sections 'and elbows are secured to the hardened base panel 12 by connecting the flanges 23 thereof to the base panel 12, as, for example, by driving short hardened nails 26 (which can be driven into concrete and -are known as concrete nails) through the flanges 23 into the base panel 12. If preferred, the conduit sections and elbows may be secured to the base panel 12 by pressing the flanges 23 into the base panel 12 before the final set of the base panel 12, so that, when the base panel 12 is hardened, the anges 23 are securely embedded therein as indicated in Figure l2.

After `all of the conduit sections a-nd elbows are thus connected together and secured to the base panel 12, either for the entire wall or floor or a section thereof, an outer cement wall portion, indicated by the numeral 27 of Figures 2 and 3, is poured or placed to lcomplete the panel or a section thereof. The impact of the outer wall portion 27, when it is poured or placed in a lliquid or plastic condition upon the conduit sections and elbows, serves to press the overlapping portions 25 of the adjacent conduit sections and elbows more closely together and to press the flanges 23 more closely against the base panel 12 so that the entry of the outer cement wall portion 27 in its liquid or plastic condition into the interior of the .conduit sections and yelbows is eifectually prevented.

Attention is directed to the fact that adjacent conduit sections and elbows are connected above t-he base panel 12 only by friction'al contact, and that there is no necessity in View of the overlapping portions 25 of the corrugations 24 for the expenditure of time, elort, or money in connecting such sections and elbows by rivets, seam locks, solder, welding or otherwise. It will be seen that such facility of lconnection provides a great economy of installation.

The impact of the outer cement wall 27 during its pouring or placing in a liquid or plastic condition and the weight of this outer wall portion 27 in its liquid or plastic condition are resisted, and deformation of `the conduit sections and elbows consequent thereto is prevented by the corrugations 24. It will be apparent that the circumferential corrugations 24 thus permit of the fabrication of the conduit sections and elbows of a thinner material, for example, metal, than could be employed without the corrugations, and that the corrugations therefore provide a substantial economy of fabrication. Furthermore the circumferential corrugations 24 provide a greatly increased area of Contact between the conduit sections and elbows and the outer wall portion 27, and hence a substantially increased area of heat conduction. In this manner a very substantial increase in efficiency of heat transfer is accomplished. Furthermore the corrugations increase the heat transfer by turbulence created in the heating or cooling medium and the avoidance of laminar iiow of such mediumwithin the conduit sections which would provide an insulating layer of such medium adjacent the wall of the sections.

lf the conduit sections 16A to 16], inclusive, and the conduit sections 18A to 18M, inclusive, are spaced uniformly and are of uniform cross-sectional area, satisfactory results are achieved, although there may be somewhat less heat transferred to the outer wall portion 27 per unit of its area near the outlet ends of such conduilt sections than near their inlet ends. Uniformity of such heat transfer over the area of the outer wall portion 27 may be secured by spacing such conduit sections nearer together progressively along the path of travel of the air therethrough. This is illustrated in the spacing of the conduit sections 16A to 16J, inclusive of Figure l where the conduit sections of uniform cross-sectional area are so spaced. In a similar manner, such uniformity of heat transfer may be accomplished by spacing uniformly conduit sections of cross-sectional areas increased progressively along the path of travel of the air therethrough as seen in Figure ll.

In the alternative embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure 4 there is provided a base 31 of sand, gravel, or the like in which conduit sections 32 are embedded. An outer wall portion 33 of cement 'is poured or placed upon these conduit sections 32 and in heat transferring relationship therewith. The conduit sections 32 are connected together by elbows similar to those previously described, and both the conduit sections and such elbows are provided with corrugations similar to the corrugations 24. However, the conduit sections 32 and their connecting elbows in 'the form illustrated in Figure 4 are in cross-sectional outline complete polygons, and in the embodiments illustrated in Figure 4 these outlines are circular.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure 5 conduit sections 34 are cast in monolithic slabs of a wall, being supported during the pouring and setting of the concrete by suitable ties 35 which may be wires. The conduit sections 34 are connected by elbows in the manner described in connection with Figures l to 3 and are provided with corrugations similar to the corrugations 24. In this alternative embodiment of my invention the conduit sections and elbows are in cross-sectional outline in the form of complete polygons, the forms illustrated in Figure 5 being ellipses.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig.- ures 6 and 7 the numerals 37 and 38 indicate a base panel and outer wall portion similar to the base panels and outer wall portions previously described, and the numeral 39 indicates conduit sections having corrugations 40 similar to those herein referred to except that they have an outline 41 semi-elliptical in form.

Mounted upon the base panel 37 within the conduit sections 39 is a baille member 42 having an outline generally similar to the outline 41 of the conduit sections 39 except that the baille member 42 is spaced from the inner surface of the conduit sections 39 and may be fabricated without corrugations. The baille member 42 includes a base portion 43 which may be secured in any suitable manner to the base panel 37, the baille member being spaced from the base panel 37 and the conduit sections 39, if desired, by insulating strips or tabs 44.

Thus, as indicated in Figures 6, the baille member 42 operates to divide the stream of iluid passing through the conduit system into a heat transferring conduit formed by the walls of the conduit section 39 and the member 42 and a fluid distributing conduit formed by the base prtion 43 and the member 42 so that only a relatively small portion -of this iluid passes between the baille member 42 and the conduit sections 39'. Hence, adjacent the baille member 42 heat is transferred from Within the member 42 by radiation and the heat transfer through the conduit sections 39 is substantially reduced. Or, asl shown in Figure i3, a plurality of such baille members 42, each of lesser length than the conduit system, may be spaced along Ithe conduit sections 39, and they may be spaced varying distances from the adjacent conduit sections to provide the desired variation in the rate of heat transfer through the adjacent conduit sections.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9, the numerals 46, 47 and 48 indicatie respectively a base panel, outer wall portion, and conduit section similar to-those previously described. The numeral 49 indicates a baille member which, as illustrated in Figure 9, may be in the form of a horizontal platey secured at its edges to the inner wall of one or more of the conduit sections 48. The space between the baie members 49 and the base pctne'l 48 forms a heut transferring conduit and the space' 'between the bale member 49 and the bare panel 46a fluid distributing conduit. The baille member may be bent downwardly at one of its extremities, as indicated by the numeral 50, or upwardly, as indicated by the numeral'Sl', as may be required to control lthe proportion of the heating or cooling iluid which passes between the baille member and the adjacent conduit section 48.

As illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the baille members 49 are spaced a greater distance from the adjacent conduit sections 48 than the spacing between the members 39 and 42 of Figures 6 and 7, so that the rate of heat transfer through the conduit sections 48 is greater than the raite of heat transfer through the conduit sections 39 which have the baille members 42 closer thereto.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure l() the numerals 53, 54 and 55 indicate a base panel, outer wall portion, and conduit ysection like those hereinbefore described. Mounted within one or more of the conduit sections S is a baille member 56 having ilanges 57 which are secured to the base panel 53, as are the ilanges 58 of the conduit sections 5'5. The space between the bale members 56 and the cOnduit 55 forms a heat transferring conduit and the space bounded by the conduit 55 und the base panel 53 forms n fluid distributing conduit. The baille member 56 is `spaced a greater distance from the adjacent conduit section 55, so that the rate of heat transfer through the adjacent conduit section 55 is greater for a given ilow of the heating or cooling medium through the system than the rate of heat transfer in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 or Figures 8 and 9. The rate of heat transfer may be further increased by making the baille members 56 of lesser longitudinal length.

In connection with the structure of Figures 8 to l0, the main stream of iluid is passed through the fluid distributing conduit of Figures 8 or 9, 0r the fluid distributing conduit (Figure )[between the baille members 49 and the base panel 46] in the direction of the arrow seen in Figure 8. Assuming the use of hot air, the

diverter 50 on the end of the left baille member 49 (as the parts are viewed in Figure 8)`at each respective position directs a portion of the hot, main streaminto the space between the left baille member 49 and the conduit section 48, and cooled air above the right baille member 49 and partially obstructed by the ilange 51 thereon sinks through the corrugations in the sides of the conduit section 48 at the edges of such right baille member 49. Since the co-operating faces of the baille members' 49 and the base panel 46 are smooth as compared with the corrugated conduit sections 48, the main stream passing below the bailles 49 initially moves much faster than the heating stream above them. A similar condition r.,- sults when using the structure of Figure i3.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the baille members may be secured within the conduit sections either by attaching them directly to the conduit sections as by soldering, welding, riveting, crimping, or the like, or they may be laid upon the base panel and held in place by the surrounding conduit section, or they may be ilrmly secured to the base panel before the conduit sections are placed therearound. The bailles may be formed of metal or material of high insulation value, as may be desired, to secure the required variation in the rate of heat transfer through the conduit sections.

While those embodiments of my invention hereinbefore illustrated and described' arel capable of performing the objects and providing the advantages primarily stated, various modifications of these forms also embodying my invention and likewise accomplishing such objects and providing such advantages will occur to those skilled in the art, and my invention is therefore to be understood as not restricted to the physical forms describedfor illustrative purposes but as including all of the modifications coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters` Patent of the United States is:

l. In a heat transfer system, the combination of: a wall including a cement base and an outer cement portion having an exposed surface; a iluid circulating means; and a conduit connected to said means and having a cross-sectional outline of an incomplete polygon with projecting ilanges secured to said cement base when hardened whereby said conduit and said base deilne a iluid passage and said base supports saidV conduit during the placing and. hardening of said outer wall portion around and over said conduit, said conduit being formed of thin heat-conducting material with circumferential corrugations substantially increasing its heat-conducting area and its resistance to deformation, and said conduit comprising sections and elbows adjacent of which are connected above said base only by frictional contact throughout overlapping portions thereof.

2. ln a heat transfer system, the combination of: a wall including a cement base and an outer cement portion having an exposed surface; a iluid circulating means; and a conduit connected to said means and having a cross-section sectional outline of an incomplete polygon with projecting ilanges secured to said cement base when hardened whereby said conduit and said base deilne a iluid passage and said base supports said conduit during the placing and hardening of said outer walll portion around and over said conduit, said conduit being formed of thin heat-conducting material with circumferential corrugations substantially increasing its heat-conducting area and its resistance to deformation.

3. In a heat transfer system, the combination of:l a closure including a base and an outer cement wall; a iluid circulating means; and a conduit connected to said iluid circulating means and in heat transfer relationship with and embedded in and covered by said cement wall, said conduit comprising sections and connecting elbows having cross-sectional outlines in the form of incomplete polygons with projecting flanges secured to said base whereby said sectionselbows, and base cooperate to define a fluid passage, and said sections and elbows being formed with circumferential corrugations substantially increasing the heat transfer varea of said conduit and its resistance to deformation, adjacent of said sections and elbows overlapping, the spacing of adjacent sections being progressively decreased in the direction of travel of the circulating tluid so that the heat transfer' between the tluid in said passage and the surface of said wall approximates uniformity throughout the eilec tive length of said passage.

4. In a heat transfer system, the combination of: a

closure including a base and an outer cement wall; a lluid circulating means; and a conduit connected to said fluidcirculating means and in heat transfer relationship with and embedded in and covered by said cement wail, said conduit comprisinggsections and connecting elbows having cross-sectional outlines in the form of incomplete polygons with projecting flanges secured to said base where by said sections, elbows and base cooperate to define a tluid passage, and said sections and elbows being formed with circumferential corrugations substantially increasing the heat transfer area of said conduit and its resistance to deformation, adjacent of said sections and elbows overlapping in frictional engagement. 5. In a heat transfer system for a space having a cement wall as one boundary, the combination of: a fluid circu lating means; and a conduit connected to said fluid cir* culating means and embedded in and in heat transfer relationship with and covered by the cement Wall, said conduit including sections and connecting elbows formed with circumferential corrugations increasing the heat transfer area cf said conduit andV resisting deformation of said conduit, adjacent of said sections and elbows overlapping in frictional engagement, the cross-sectional area of said sections progressively increasing in the direction of travel of the circulating fluid so that the heat transfer between the iluid in said conduit and the surface of said wall is approximately uniform over the surface of said wall.

6. In a heat transfer system, the combination of: a closure including a base and an outer cement wall; a fluid circulating means; a heat transferring conduit connected to said fluid circulating means and in heat transfer relationship with and embedded in and covered by said cement wall, said conduit comprising sections and connecting elbows having cross-sectional outlines in the form of incomplete polygons with projecting flanges secured to said base whereby said sections, elbows, and base cooperate to dene a tluid passage, and said sections and elbows being formed with circumferential corrugations substantially increasing the heat transfer area of said conduit and its resistance to deformation adjacentof said sections and elbows overlapping in frictional engagement; and bafe means providing a conduit within and spaced from said heat transferring conduit and communicating with the` space of said heat transferring conduit at longitudinally spaced intervals for controlling the ow of fluid in contact with said heat transferring conduit.

7. In a heat transfer system for a space having a cement wall as one boundary, the combination of: a fluid circulating means; a heat transferring conduit connected to said fluid circulating means and in heat transfer relationship with and covered by the cement wall, said conduit including sections and connecting elbows, and said sections being forrned with circumferential corrugations increasing the heat transfer area of said sections and resisting deformation of said sections; and baille means carried bysaid conduit and spaced from said base and the opposite wall of said conduit, said baffle means being of lesser length than said conduit and disposed progressively at greater distances from said sections for varying the rate' of heat transfer through said conduit adjacent said baille means by correspondingly dividing the stream of fluid flowing through said conduit.

8. In a heat transfer system, the combination of: a closure including a base and an outer cement wall; a fluid circulating means including a supply conduit and a return conduit; a heat transferring conduit of uniform diameter lthroughout its length with said supply conduit and said return conduit to form a closed circuit, said conduit being in heat transfer relationship with and embedded in and covered by said cement wall; baffle means within and spaced from the heat tnansferring conduit to constitute a fluid distributing conduit within the heat transferring conduit, said bale means extending the entire length of said heat transferring conduit, said baffle means being formed in sections spaced longitudinally from each other to form fluid diversion outlets therebetween and disposed progressively at greater distances from the heat transferring conduit for varying the volume of fluid flowing through said heat transferring conduit.

9. In a heat transfer system, the combination of: a fiuid circulating means including a supply conduit and a return conduit, a heat transferring conduit of uniform cross section throughout its length connected at said supply conduit and said return conduit forming a closed fluid circuloting system; baffle means extending within the heat transferring conduit and lengthwise of and parallel to the wall of said conduit providing a fluid distributing conduit within the heat transfer conduit, said baffle means being formed in sections with spacing between each section to form outlets communicating with the heat transferring conduit, each section being spaced inwardly from the wall of the heat transferring conduit to step-by-step increase the cross sectional area of the heat circulating conduit in the direction of flow and reduce the cross sectional area of the fluid distributing conduit.

10. In a heat transfer system according to claim 9, a deflecting means carried by the sections for varying the amount of fluid transferred from the fluid distributing conduit to the heat transfer conduit.

References Cited in the tile of this patent or the original patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 2,297 Robbins June 26, 1866 899,078 Salmon Sept. 22, 1908 y1,049,542. lSmith Ian. 7, 1913 1,242,473 Prentice Oct. 9, 1917 1,406,852 Haden et' al Feb. 14, 1922 1,642,631 Stevens Sept. 13, 1927 1,729,612 Goldsmith Oct. 1, 1929 1,753,496 Barton Apr. 8, 1930 1,941,211 Inglee Dec. 26, 1933 1,972,670 Varcoe Sept. 14, 1934 2,098,830 McElgin Nov. 9, 1937 2,144,626 Hewitt Jan. 24, 1939 2,200,397 Monson May 14, 1940 2,211,813 Franco-Ferreira Aug. 20, 1940 2,238,952 Stacey Apr. 22, 1941 2,488,623 Goeltz Nov. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,009 Great Britain July 27, 1914 255,445 Germany Apr. 2, 1912 

